Dr. Muhammad Riaz has successfully completed the implementation of PUAN Grant in Islamabad titled ‘AI Training for Pre-service Graduate Teachers in Islamabad Universities,” supported by the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN). Dr. Riaz is our distinguished USAID PhD (2012) alumnus. With more than 32 years of experience in teacher training, STEM and AI education, and curriculum development, Dr. Riaz has led national and international projects supported by PUAN, USAID, and HEC Pakistan. His collaborations span global institutions including Teachers College (Columbia University) and Aga Khan University. Through his organization STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Math Education), Dr. Riaz continues to pioneer AI literacy in Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Despite the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence in global education, many preservice teachers in Islamabad still lack the skills needed to integrate AI in meaningful, responsible, and student-centered ways. “Many young educators are either afraid of AI or misuse it because they were never formally trained,” Dr. Riaz shared. “I wanted to bridge that gap, so our teachers can guide students, not be replaced by the technology.”
Taking AI Where It Matters Most
Dr. Muhammad Riaz completed this grant project over the course of 18 week through five intensive, three-day AI training workshops at the following institutions: Alhamd Islamic University, Preston University, Federal College of Education, Ibadat International University and International Islamic University Islamabad.
Despite limited resources, inclusivity remained a core priority throughout the project. Faculty members attended the training sessions in person, while post-graduate students were accommodated through an innovative hybrid model that ensured equal learning opportunities for all. As a result, 150 direct beneficiaries gained hands-on AI skills, while more than 5,000 indirect beneficiaries were reached through digital sharing and outreach. The workshops led to the development of AI-supported lesson plans, assessments, and research tools, further strengthening classroom innovation. To sustain collaboration beyond the training, a social media–based AI Educators Network was also launched, creating a vibrant community of educators committed to continuous learning and professional growth.
The workshops covered everything from prompt engineering and classroom AI tools to ethical considerations and creative lesson design, equipping future teachers to step confidently into AI-assisted learning environments.
Spread of Innovation Across Islamabad’s Universities
What made this project stand out was not just skill development but transformation. Participants learned how to craft effective prompts for research, assessments, lesson planning, and classroom engagement. Faculty began redesigning instructional materials using responsible AI frameworks. Post-graduate students applied AI tools to improve efficiency in research, rubrics, and academic presentations.
“Transforming higher education through prompt engineering and the use of AI tools will save our students valuable time and enhance their learning efficiency”, Dr. Fouzia Ajmal, 45, Islamabad
“The AI training workshop has acted as a change agent in our Education Department, inspiring innovation and modern teaching practices”, Dr. Azhar Mehmood Saadi, 60, Islamabad
By empowering educators today, we can confidently say that classrooms become more digitally ready for tomorrow and we are proud of our alumnus Dr. Riaz for making this effort.
